It is ridiculous that hard working health care workers are constantly having to take protest action and industrial action including strike action to get their pay increases. They were promised that pay parity would be maintained, yet, nothing is forthcoming, last year the health minister was allowed to use funding for this financial year to settle the pay dispute, leaving the health budget with a huge budget deficit for the 2026 financial year, and we are now in a situation that the widely heralded three year budget has not been agreed by the Executive parties, this is yet another broken promise to staff, who are already demoralised by the conditions they are forced to endure while trying to deliver even the most minimal standards of care.

Patients and service users while fully supportive and appreciate staff have become frustrated by the constant struggles they are faced with while trying to access treatment and medical assistance across the entire health and social care system. Rural areas are constantly suffering the effects of poor decision making by a health service management who either fails to listen to or fails to understand the consequences that major services changes inflict on rural communities.

The Workers Party stands shoulder to shoulder with the health service staff and their demands for pay parity and a comprehensive workforce plan, that will deliver quality services, and the party fully supports the demands of rural communities who are fighting to retain services that are local and accessible. Patients should not have to follow medical staff in order to cover staff shortages, and workers should not have to constantly fight for their pay increases.